Elon Musk’s Starlink launch withheld till Presidential Election is over

7 September 2024 07:21 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 17 Bookmark

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Colombo, September 07 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka’s plan to set up operations of Elon Musk's Starlink, the satellite unit of SpaceX, has been withheld till the Presidential Election is over because of some clearance pending with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, a top source said.

State Minister of Technology, Kanaka Herath, announced earlier that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission granted preliminary approval for ‘Starlink’ to provide satellite-based internet services in Sri Lanka.

Besides, Parliament approved amendments to a decades-old law on Tuesday to allow Elon Musk's Starlink to set up operations in the country.

Parliament passed the new telecommunications bill, which amended the existing law for the first time in 28 years, without a vote.

The amendments introduce three new types of licences and allow Starlink to enter Sri Lanka's telecom market as a licensed service provider.

However, a top government source said the launch would be impossible before the Presidential Elections. Sri Lankans will go to the polls on September 21 to decide on the next President to govern the country for another period of five years.

Once Starlink is launched, Elon Musk is also scheduled to visit Sri Lanka. Besides, the government authorities are planning for a Zoom meeting with Starlink.

Comments - 17

Petty politics hold back the country's progress Saturday, 07 September 2024 09:06 AM

Why does progress made need to be reversed just because of elections? We go one step forward and two steps back because of political interference to claim bragging rights for even the smallest bit of progress.

7 28

Ravana Saturday, 07 September 2024 09:40 AM

Lol, He is searching for reasons for recent failures...

8 11

Samuel Saturday, 07 September 2024 10:19 AM

This is the folly of having elections in almost every year. The country's progress has been hampered severely, enabling other countries to race past us. Only in Sri Lanka lol.

15 15

Kalusena Saturday, 07 September 2024 11:13 AM

Starlink internet will not be affordable for the average Sri Lankan citizen. Initial modem cost is approximately Rs 200,000 and the minimum monthly fee is around Rs 40,000. Some of our politicians will be able to afford the service.

4 12

SLEx Saturday, 07 September 2024 07:13 PM

Satellite internet is not for poor people or rich people. Its for uninterrupted internet access which most IT careers use. Do we stop bringing gold or new cars to the country because majority can't afford it or do we still bring it because people who can or want to will buy? This is why SL never progresses. I would gladly pay this if I don't have to spend 14000 for SLT 40mbps with limited data per day.

1 14

Suresh S Friday, 13 September 2024 08:54 PM

Clearly you don't know who the target market is here. The waitlist of people who put a down payment on this already exceeds 10,000 and is one of the most eagerly awaited services by both consumers and businesses. How's that for demand? The value Starlink brings is far beyond the direct service it provides. For the first time in Sri Lanka, it brings real competition to the ISP's pricing practices who have been slow slurping cash using data caps from consumers. Finally, a solid solution to the provide unlimited bandwidth, mobility and accessibility. The amount of innovation those 3 features provide alone is enough to change how we view access to broadband. This is the one that makes it affordable to provide community based WiFi. Imagine 20 to 50 homes come together to purchase a Starlink and connect to it using a mesh. Suddenly the economics of it changes massively.

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Gamini Saturday, 07 September 2024 11:51 AM

He will never come to SL if AKD wins

7 19

Don Harrison Sunday, 08 September 2024 03:14 PM

He will only come if Wimal Weerawansa and Rohitha Abegunawardene are in parliament. Not to mention Nimal Siripala ,and Kandy man Mahindananda .He may ask Duminda Silva to be re released and given a top job . Musk is no fool.

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Mohan Saturday, 07 September 2024 12:10 PM

I had to change my opinion about Elon Musk after his comments on the recent riots in the UK.

0 9

Athk69 Saturday, 07 September 2024 01:10 PM

What does an election have to do with an already approved TRC licence? Do these jokers think that any foreign investor worth their salt will even think of coming to SL? What signal are the authorities sending international investors?

4 3

DAR Saturday, 07 September 2024 01:21 PM

There's nothing wrong with Satellite based Internet services as part of Sri Lanka communication Infrastructure. It just slow, expensive and bit hyped. What Sri Lanka need is modern Fiber Optic network across entire country instead of relying on 1970s Copper network.

0 8

Boo baba Saturday, 07 September 2024 02:30 PM

It was reported earlier that the TRC cleared everything necessary for the launch. Is this a political or official issue? or they are knowledgable about typical scenarios?

0 2

Kevin Saturday, 07 September 2024 02:58 PM

Starlink is not progress. They come to SL as a sales destination only. Not as a service centre or manufacturing hub.

3 5

SLEx Saturday, 07 September 2024 07:15 PM

I work remotely and therefore it literally earns me money online. Not sure how this is not progress. I can now safely do all my work without worrying about running out of limited data per day on my unlimited SLT package.

0 3

M Fernando Saturday, 07 September 2024 03:57 PM

Starlink in Sri Lanka was an election gundu to get the Colombo-types to vote for president-who-has-western-friends.

2 3

M Fernando Saturday, 07 September 2024 03:57 PM

Starlink in Sri Lanka was an election gundu to get the Colombo-types to vote for president-who-has-western-friends.

2 2

Jim Sunday, 08 September 2024 10:11 AM

Another Volkswagen

1 4

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